The battle is between Anna and Joel, both masters of their own element, confronting each other over the latter's right to cross Anna's beach.

The scene is a simple shore-line with a soft incoming tide in the waning hours of a long summer's day. The sand is wet and solid underfoot until one reaches softer dry sand and scrub, before the beach finally gives way to forest. As the contest is over Joel's decision to walk across Anna's beach, either side retreating from the beach-front admits defeat. Therefore, fleeing to deep sea or the forested region is forfeit for either character, as death is unlikely on either side.

Once you let me know you're happy with it I'll make the first post (unless you particularly want to do it.)

As a learning experience it won't be necessarily all that useful though, as Anna doesn't really carry any equipment.

Yeah, this is great. Thank you!

Hmm, I suck at describing scenes so it's not as long an introduction as I would usually make.

Would you like me to give you a run-through of the normal form for introductions etc? Your character is also one which requires very little introduction, but I can give you the gist of what you'd do if we had brought more 'equipped' characters.

For what it's worth, I thought that scene was quite good. I mostly hang around the Free and Casual sections, though, so we might have different standards.

Yes, a run-through would be much appreciated if you want to do one. I'll have an IC post up by tonight.

Alright, an introduction post is pretty important and both players have different roles (usually.)

Player one arrives first and posts first, they cannot (usually, unless agreed upon) see any sign of their opponent so as to give them free reign of where they start. In their post they tend to set the scene, describe landmarks etc. Most importantly they describe where their character is (roughly, usually this is cemented by the second poster's position and post) and what they're doing there. Then, you must try to inform any readers of how your character is equipped, some people are particularly strict on this and require everything to be mentioned otherwise it's considered void. This is pretty difficult when you have a very well equipped character, however, those sort of characters are also usually fairly tactically minded. So a trick I like to use is having my character mentally run through his more nitty-gritty equipment, while things like clothing and outward apparel I describe while describing the scene.

An example of this trick I saw (which I attempt to utilize) is to describe the scene and part of your character's apparel simultaneously, so as to not bore readers with a description of everything they are wearing in a list-like fashion. For example -

John stomped his way down the long dry road, his tough black boots kicking up dirt and dust that began to mar his otherwise fine looking jeans.

So, you have an important check-list in (any) introduction.

Describe the scene (as your character perceives it or not is up to you.)
Explain your presence.
Describe your character.
Describe your character's equipment.

The first poster has the lion's share of the work in describing the scene, consequently the second poster is responsible for initiating dialogue or at the very least bringing the characters into contact, as they start with knowledge of where the other player is. This doesn't necessarily mean literally walking up and talking though, if you wish to utilize stealth you may, but you may say something along the lines of your character spotting the opponent and moving closer.

Some rules and tips for introductions:

Combat can't be initiated in an introductory post.

'Prepping' an attack can't be initiated in introductions. (This is part of T1, which I believe you said you read up on.)

Forgetting important details in an introduction is a critical error and should be avoided if at all possible, or judges may rule against you.

Introducing the scene is an important role, don't take too many liberties with the environment however or you may be judged against. For example, planting yourself in the middle of an icy lake on the one platform available in miles is bad form. Someone used this against me in a tournament once, very cheap tactic.

Finally, have fun with it, an introduction can stretch way into the past if it helps explain your character's presence and can grant a greater gravitas to a fight.

Thanks for the explanation! I tried to do the four things you mentioned, and feedback would be appreciated if it's not too much trouble - I had a mild bout of writer's block, so it's probably not that good.

Regarding T1, I've read A Turn-Based Textual Combat Primer and T1 Rules and Guidelines, but I don't remember anything about prepping during intros - is there something else I should look at?

Once again, thanks so much for the guidance.

Hmm, that's a somewhat lenient example there (T1 Rules and Guidelines) and the other doesn't really cover preps. I would argue prepping falls under the same realm of fighting being heavily frowned upon in introductions, because it gives whoever posts second a major advantage by being able to initiate the combat with the element of surprise -and- giving them a leg up on preparing attacks.

It's up to individual interpretation, but usually I would reserve introductions for story and descriptions, and launch into any prepping or fighting in the following round.

Mm, sorry got caught up in the excitement of tournaments and whatnot, I'll sort this out first.